Conventional fertilisers
The problem
Manures from non-organic farms and rock phosphates are considered problematic in organic plant nutrition due to the presence of contaminants (in manures from non-organic farms), the usage of non-renewable sources (rock phosphates), and structural dependency on conventional farms. These fertilisers are therefore contentious inputs in organic farming. The shortage of acceptable nutrient sources is a bottleneck for upscaling organic farming, which aims to maintain soil health and nutrient cycles.
What SCALE-it does
Building on RELACS and Organic-PLUS knowledge, SCALE-it updates information on the availability and upscaling potential of nutrient recycling approaches. We facilitate access to nutrient inputs from recycled sources and enhance nutrient use efficiency through improved agronomic management. This includes reviewing regulations and developing a transparent multi-criteria assessment scheme (DSS) for recycled sources.
SCALE-it aims at closing rural-urban nutrient cycles by usingalternative fertilizers from local sources and to optimize on-farm cycling strategies by by innovative integration of legumes as cover crops and in mixed cropping. The fertilisation strategoes are tested and validated in demonstration trials across 13 European countries and in scientific field trials in Denmark and Germany. Thealternative fertilisers include struvite, biogas digestate, compost, insect frass, tofu whey. For optimizing nutrient cycling on farm level, we test various legumes as green manures (monocrops and mixtures) that are adapted to the local conditions. Our aim is to ensure their practical relevance, increase biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), and improve crop rotation effects.
Expected results
The project is expected to deliver a comprehensive and clear evaluation framework for new nutrient inputs from recycled sources, improving access to new nutrient sources while supporting sustainable crop rotations and reducing dependence on conventional fertilisers. It will provide scientific analysis and evaluation, identify future research needs, facilitate knowledge transfer through cooperation partners and associations, and develop recommendations and practical guidelines, ultimately contributing to the broader acceptance and practical application of alternative fertilisers.
Latest news:
New SCALE-it scientific publication explores how a sustainable fungicide acts against major plant pathogens
Voices of SCALE-it: Advancing Biocontrol for Plant Health
Two EU Projects join forces to redefine organic farming
SCALE-it presented at the “Biocontrol in organic: managing plant health with complementary practices” event at the EU Parliament
SCALE-it holds its first Annual General Meeting in Granada
